Marjorie Topley
Jean DeBernardi (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789888028146
- eISBN:
- 9789882206663
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Hong Kong University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5790/hongkong/9789888028146.003.0010
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Asian Studies
This chapter discusses certain aspects of an esoteric, secretly organized, religion in China called Hsien-t'ien Ta-tao [Xiantian Dadao] (or Hsient'ien Tao [Xiantian Dao]) “The Great Way of Former ...
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This chapter discusses certain aspects of an esoteric, secretly organized, religion in China called Hsien-t'ien Ta-tao [Xiantian Dadao] (or Hsient'ien Tao [Xiantian Dao]) “The Great Way of Former Heaven” (or “The Way of Former Heaven”). It is based mainly on material discovered in Singapore during 1954–1955. The name Hsien-t'ien Tao has been recorded elsewhere as that of a Chinese “sect.” Evidence suggested that it might have links with several other groupings but the exact nature of connexion is obscure. This chapter shows that the Great Way of Former Heaven is in fact a name used by a number of schismatic sects for the religious system from which they have ramified. These sects themselves have a number of different names, some using Hsien-t'ien Men (“door” or sect) as an alternative.Less
This chapter discusses certain aspects of an esoteric, secretly organized, religion in China called Hsien-t'ien Ta-tao [Xiantian Dadao] (or Hsient'ien Tao [Xiantian Dao]) “The Great Way of Former Heaven” (or “The Way of Former Heaven”). It is based mainly on material discovered in Singapore during 1954–1955. The name Hsien-t'ien Tao has been recorded elsewhere as that of a Chinese “sect.” Evidence suggested that it might have links with several other groupings but the exact nature of connexion is obscure. This chapter shows that the Great Way of Former Heaven is in fact a name used by a number of schismatic sects for the religious system from which they have ramified. These sects themselves have a number of different names, some using Hsien-t'ien Men (“door” or sect) as an alternative.
